Plenty of hope for Roar

Soccer

Plenty of hope for Roar

by JoshSpasaro

Josh Spasaro
Sports Journalist

I spent four years in country newspapers before taking on a dream role of covering national and international sports news across the entire APN network, in early 2012.
I learnt my trade in Kingaroy, Queanbeyan and Lismore doing it all – design, photography and headline writing.
I am now the envy of all my friends and family members, now that I have the privilege of covering Origin, Bledisloe Cups, footy grand finals and other top international sporting events.
Yes, I wouldn’t trade this job for...

AFTER a drama-filled off-season, Brisbane Roar went into the opening round of the 2015-16 A-League campaign with more questions hanging over it than any other team.

How would the players perform under new coach John Aloisi?

Had they moved on from the club's financial woes in the off-season?

Could new recruits Jamie Maclaren (Perth Glory) and Corona (Spain) provide the goals that were sadly lacking last season?

As it turned out, the Roar provided positive responses to those questions and more, scoring three times inside the first 45 minutes against the Western Sydney Wanderers to set up a 3-1 victory that offered plenty of hope for fans.

The Roar's performance was the highlight of APN's five takeaways from round one.

ROARING AGAIN

New coach John Aloisi promised attacking football, and his players delivered against the Western Sydney Wanderers.

Jamie Maclaren showed plenty of talent at the Glory, scoring nine goals last season despite starting only seven times.

It was that lack of game time that prompted him to look elsewhere. Two goals against the Wanderers was the perfect start, and with Corona and Thomas Broich providing service, there could be a lot more to come.

Western Sydney had its chances, but with virtually a whole new side it could take a while to settle down.

MARINERS RIDE THE WAVE

Coach Phil Moss paid the price for an ordinary 2014/15 season that produced just five wins.

His replacement Tony Walmsley has already got one up, classy winger Fabio Ferreira scoring a double in the 3-2 win over Perth Glory.

We're not suggesting the club could return to the glory days of 2012-13 when it won the title, but at least it has got off on the right foot.

The jury is still out on the Glory.

GREAT DANE

Melbourne City's new goalkeeper - ex-Danish international and English Premier League star Thomas Sorensen - was a huge pick-up for the club.

He might be 39, but the 101-game international and veteran of more than 400 EPL appearances for Sunderland, Aston Villa and Stoke lived up to the hype with a terrific showing in the 1-all draw with Sydney FC.

He produced a world-class save to keep out a curling shot from Rhyan Grant 13 minutes from time, before another spectacular effort to deny George Blackwood in the final minute.

CARNEY AND THE JETS

Former Socceroo David Carney sat out the second half of last season for Newcastle after a falling out with previous coach Phil Stubbins.

New Jets coach Scott Miller made it his No.1 priority to get Carney back into his team, and it paid immediate dividends against the Phoenix, with the 31-year-old scoring and providing an assist in his team's 2-1 win in Wellington.

NOT THE REAL VICTORY

The Melbourne Victory played out a dour 0-0 draw against fierce rivals Adelaide United, but expect the defending champion to lift its intensity in the derby against cross-town rivals Melbourne City at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.

Kevin Muscat's men will have to do it without midfielder Leigh Broxham though, who picked up a questionable red card against the Reds.